With Sims and defensive tackle Domata Peko submerging the line surge and linebackers Rey Maualuga and A.J. Sebastian Janikowski’s extra point attempt following the first touchdown was good, and Oakland tried unsuccessfully for a two-point conversion following their second score.
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The Raiders host the Ravens next Sunday.
But what a game for the defense.
Jones was part of a second-quarter fracas in the Bengals’ 33-13 win that involved Raiders offensive tackle Austin Howard. The Bengals extended their lead to 30-0 on Dalton’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Eifert with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
Carr was diagnosed with a bruised right thumb. Will Clarke, the second-year end, took 11 snaps. Backup quarterback Matt McGloin took over and played the remainder of the game.
We were expecting to see how the culture had changed under new coach Jack Del Rio.
Since coming over in a trade on the eve of the 2010 season, Nelson has done that a lot.
“We didn’t play good in any phases”, defensive end Justin Tuck said. “And together we make it happen”. Yet the Raiders started the game with a series of passes from Derek Carr that were off target and predictably aimed at Amari Cooper.
While McGloin rushed onto the field for a futile fourth and 1, Carr tested his hand by throwing short passes to an assistant on the sideline. Cincinnati hosts San Diego next Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Carr had a hand issue in the offseason, but he was healed up in time for training camp and was healthy in the preseason. His drive consisted of a dropped screen pass by Seth Roberts, a Carlos Dunlap sack, and then after the 2 minute warning came a 12 yard run on 3rd and 16 by Latavius Murray.
With the Raiders playing a single safety high, there were seams open all day whenever the Bengals spread the field.
Del Rio didn’t have a formal update on starting safeties Nate Allen or Charles Woodson, both of whom received MRIs on Monday. But Green was off to the races on a slant with about 15 yards after catch. “I’ve been in this league long enough to know you don’t reach your goals in the first week”.
The Raiders generated no pass rush even with the addition of Aldon Smith, and the Bengals’ Andy Dalton teamed primarily with tight end Tyler Eifert to carve up the Raiders defense.
“Not the kind of performance we expected to have out there today”, he said. We’re going to have better days.
“I haven’t heard what it’s going to be”, Del Rio said. It’s only week one. We have a group of guys we’re working with there.
“It was clearly way over the line”, Del Rio said. The Bengals certainly didn’t come out flat.
Tyler Eifert. Of course, we’re calling him out. He was also double teamed for most of the afternoon.
“That’s embarrassing”, linebacker Malcolm Smith said of a game that featured plenty of booing from the sellout Coliseum crowd.
Celebrations or not, coach Marvin Lewis said he wants his players to display better discipline. It was an exciting big crowd. We’ll get it turned around…
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I believe that we’ll settle down, understand the basic fundamentals that we’ve got to be able to execute to play good football.
